Chain fastener



A. A. THOMAS CHAIN FASTENER June 3, 1930.

Filed May 18, 1929 INVENTOR Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES QFFICE A v ALBIN A. THOMAS, or YORK, PENNSYLVANIA. Assrcrn'on mo UNITED- STATES CHAIN a FORGING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, GORPORATION' 0F DELA WARE Application filed May 18,

My invention relates to chain fasteners, and more particularly to tightening and connecting devices such as are employed on fastening the side chains of'anti-skid chain of grit, rust, etc., is avoided.

One form which my invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device in partially open position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in locked position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

V The fastener is shown as employed for connecting end links 5 and 6 of aside chain or the like and comprises a connector link 7 a latching lever 8, anda keeper 9.

The connecter link'7 is shown as having permanent connection with the chain link 5, while the'lever 8 has loose connection with j the'link 7 .so as to have free pivotal movement thereon, while the keeperor catch 9 partially embraces the sides of the link .7

as shown more clearly freely slidable thereon. I 7

The lever 8 has a bent portion serves as a seat for the link 6 and a hook portion 11' that is engaged by the keeper. 9 when the lever is in closed position, as

in Fig. 4, and -is In effecting connection between the links 5 and 6, the free end of the lever 8 is passed through the link 6'as. shown in Fig. 1, and is then swung to the left until its hook portion 11 extends below the plane of the position when hand end of the link and lie against ,apull is again exerted'on 10 which crmm FASTENER.

1929. Serial No. 3 4,200.

is shifted from thepositionshown in Fig. 1 to the position shownin Fig. 2. The lever 8 may then be, permitted to swing slightly in a'j'clockwise direction under the tension of the chainlinks 5 and 6. The keeper 9 is not likely to become accidentally disengaged from the hook 11 through. slackening of the chain" links, since if the cOnnectinglinkV isin a'hori'zontal such slacknes's' occurs, the keep'er9 obviously will remain in the position shown in Fig. 2,, while if the right hand end of the link 7 is elevated at a time when slackness occurs, the lowernp'ortion of t'he"keeperwill slide into the hook 11 and thusbe hldr against movement to the position shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, if the left hand end of the link 7 is in elevated position when the chain is slack, the keeper 9 will slide toward the right the body portion of the lever 8, so that when the hook, the the locking posikeeper will be forced into tion shown in Fig. 2. p

The ends of the keeper 9 are spaced apart such distance that the extremity of the hook 11 may pass between the same and permit the lower straight portion of thekeeper to move into the bend of the hook.

The parts 7 and 8 may be formed of wire stofckthat is little if any heavier than the stock from which the chain links 5 and '6 are formed, and it will be seen that the arrangement of, the parts is such that the fastener as a wholedoes not occupy space much greater than that required for ordinarychain links, thus avoiding excessive protuberances which are objectionable at the sides of a tire. V

. I claimas my invention a t 1. A chain fastener comprising a connect ing link of elongated loop form, a latch lever pivotally connected at oneof its ends to one end of said link and having its free end'movable between and to a point below the sides of the loop,

ends partially and a keeper of yokelike form having each of its embracing one side of the loop and slidable longitudinally of the loop in position above the free end of the lever when said lever is in closed osition.

2. A c ain fastener comprising a connecting link of elongated loop form, a latch lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to one end of the link, the other end of the lever being bent backward to hook form, an offset portion intermediate the ends of the lever to serve as a seat for a chain link, and a keeper slidably mounted on the connecting link, the hook portion of the lever being movable between and to a point below the sides of the loop.

3. A chain fastener comprising a connecting link of elongated loop form, a latch lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to one end of the link, the other end of the lever being bent backward to hook form, an offset portion intermediate the ends of the lever to serve as a seat for a chain link, and a keeper slidably mounted on the connecting link, the hook portion of the lever being movable between and to a point below the sides of the loop, and the said keeper comprising a yoke-like member with its ends upturned and partially overlying the loop, but spaced apart a distance to permit passage of the outer end of the hook portion therebetween.

In testimony whereof I, the said AL IN A. THOMAS, have hereunto set my hand.

ALBIN A. THOMAS. 

